The Auditor: Codey Watch Part 3

State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) is shown in this file photo.Star-Ledger file photo

Let Codey Watch, Part 3, begin.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, one of the state’s most influential Democrats, palled around last week with Gov. Chris Christie at the unveiling of a new $5.5 million sea lion exhibit at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, renewing speculation about whether DiVincenzo would formally back the Republican governor for re-election.

He has conspicuously not endorsed the inevitable Democratic gubernatorial candidate, state Sen. Barbara Buono.

Well, The Auditor heard there’s at least one reason the county executive may be hesitant to formally back his friend the governor: State Sen. Richard Codey, who flirted with his own potential run for governor for months, is now thinking of challenging DiVincenzo in next year’s Democratic primary.

Asked whether he was interested in becoming county executive, Codey said he was focused on his Senate campaign this year.

"I’m worried about getting re-elected in November," Codey told The Auditor. "Not about that. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of people who want to see a Democrat in that seat again."

Asked to elaborate, Codey said DiVincenzo and his allies "couldn’t care whether it’s the Socialist Party, Communist Party, tea party, the Republican Party. It doesn’t matter. Whoever can do the most for them at the moment, then that’s who they’re for."

Of course, Codey has a history of walking up to the water’s edge but not going in. Some Essex insiders say it’s more likely he’ll encourage someone else.

Phil Alagia, DiVincenzo’s chief of staff, said they’re not worried by a potential challenge from Codey.

"Joe D said he’d welcome the run," Alagia said. "The guy’s 40-year record, he’s what’s wrong with the state of New Jersey. He’s afraid of what a spotlight on him would reveal because he didn’t run for governor twice — in ’05 and this year — when he had opportunities. He’ll again shy away from a challenge."

Asked whether a potential challenge was making DiVincenzo hesitant to endorse Christie, Alagia would only say his boss was "focused on government" and would do "what’s best for the county."

All politics is local

Pay-to-play is technically not allowed in Newark, but pay-to-not-play?

In weighing contract proposals last week for a new city auditor, Councilman Ron Rice Jr. asked to see if any companies had donated to Christie’s campaign.

The question rankled some observers, who said Rice was trying to punish Christie donors.

"It is absurd that that should play any role in their decisions of what’s best for the people of Newark," said Mike DuHaime, Christie’s political strategist.

Rice explained that Newark has been using the same auditor for years, and state monitors overseeing Newark’s budget are insisting that the contract be farmed out. This year the city received five proposals, he said, and suspected Christie was taking care of his donors.

"You can give money to whoever you want to give money to," Rice said. "To me this is just another sort of ploy by the state."

Macy’s and Gimbels merge ...

Paul Josephson and Hersh Kozlov once battled it out as attorneys for competing gubernatorial campaigns: Josephson for Jon Corzine, the Democrat who was ultimately elected, and Kozlov for his Republican challenger, Doug Forrester.

Now they’re working together.

On April 1, Josephson joined Duane Morris, an international law firm with 24 offices on three continents, after being recruited by Kozlov.

"Hersh and I have certainly battled hard for our parties and candidates," Josephson said. "But we both love our state and its cities, and want them to thrive."

"And yes," he added, "if it turns out to be Hillary-Christie in 2016, that will certainly be interesting."

To Joe, from Chris

Joe Scarborough — the former Florida congressman turned morning television personality on MSNBC — makes no secret of his man-crush on Christie, and last week the governor returned the favor.

From one 50-year-old Republican to another, Christie joined in wishing the "Morning Joe" host a happy birthday in a videotaped message studded with bold-faced names.

President Bill Clinton; Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser in the Obama White House; and Richard Stengel, the managing editor of Time magazine, made digital appearances, as well, according to Politico’s Playbook, which reported all the details the next morning.

"Happy 50th, Joe. Fifty is young. It looks good on you. I hope you have 50 more. Hillary and I wish you all the best," Clinton said in the video, which played at a rooftop terrace surprise party in Washington.

Guests included Yousef Al Otaiba, ambassador to the United States from the United Arab Emirates; and Scarborough’s co-host, Mika Brzezinski, who organized the festivities; as well as Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, and Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican; David Gregory, host of NBC’s "Meet the Press"; and the Republican strategist Mark McKinnon.